AFI Silver is proud to host the 9th annual New African Films Festival, co-presented by AFI, TransAfrica and afrikafé. The vibrancy of African filmmaking from all corners of the continent is on display in this year's acclaimed selections.

NAIROBI HALF LIFEKenya

Official Oscar submission, Kenya

Chasing his dreams of making it big as an actor, headstrong yet naïve Mwas (Joseph Wairimu) leaves behind his small rural village for the sprawling Kenyan capitol of Nairobi. A few rookie mistakes land him in jail, where Mwas is taken in by Oti, a small-time crook. Although he learns how to survive in the dangerous and sprawling capitol, Mwas is torn between his new lifestyle of theft, violence and money and his dream of becoming an actor. Rising talent Wairimu delivers a strong performance in David 'Tosh' Gitonga’s fast-paced crime drama, which won the Breakthrough Audience Award at AFI Fest 2012.

When twenty-something advertising executive Nyarai finds out that her best friend Nonto is getting married, she and her lawyer friend Maxi are sent into a frenzy, worrying that their time to find "Mr. Right" may be running out. Determined to marry for love—despite the insistence of her meddlesome mother that she hurry up and settle down—Nyarai sets out to find a modern man as strong and dependable as the mythical traditional warrior. Reminiscent of a Zimbabwean SEX AND THE CITY, director Rumbi Katedza's delightful debut feature is a smart and insightful comedy about the struggle of young African women to balance modern lifestyles with the pressures of family and tradition. (Courtesy of New York African Film Festival).

Mahmoud is a father of two, living in a small tourist village nestled next to the Great Pyramids outside Cairo. But being a pro-Mubarak supporter has left him disgraced and unemployable in the wake of the successful revolution. Reem, meanwhile, was a plucky young advertising exec, whom the revolution transformed into a passionate do-gooder. Their paths cross when Reem's NGO starts work in Mahmoud's impoverished village, and the consequence will reverberate in both of their lives forever. Mostly fiction, while grounded in documentary tradition, Yousry Nasrallah's captivating film gives a raw personal insight into the aftermath of the historic Arab Spring. Official Selection, 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

1989: Lamontville, South Africa. The fight against apartheid is at its peak, with Nelson Mandela set to be released from prison in a year. But while tensions are rising, Otelo and his best friend New Year find their sweet escape when they learn to surf. As they rocket toward stardom in the typically white-dominated sport, can they avoid being dragged down into a spiral of jealousy and violence? First-time filmmaker Sara Blecher's Shakespeare-inspired drama perfectly captures the political turmoil of the time through the lens of South Africa's vibrant surfing subculture. Official Selection, 2012 Seattle and Chicago Film Festivals.

A peacekeeping soldier in wartorn Sierra Leone, Obi's life changes forever when he finds his fiancée mutilated by child soldiers. Returning to his native Nigeria, Obi can't seem to escape the scars of war. By day, he runs a small security company with Ola, his best friend and fellow war veteran; at night, he walks the isolating streets of Lagos. A haunting story about loneliness, love and self-discovery set in a throbbing African megacity, this film delicately explores the effects of war and loss. Official Selection, New York African Film Festival.

DIR Andy Amadi Okoroafor. Nigeria, 2012, color, 92 min. NOT RATED

No passes accepted.

Fri, Mar 8, 9:30

SWIRL IN BAMAKOMali

Makan peddles his wood carvings on the streets of Bamako, but his meager earnings aren't enough to support himself, let alone the girl of his dreams, Sira. His luck is about to change when his friend convinces him to buy a lottery ticket for a big payday, and he actually wins. The only problem? He can't find the ticket! Now Makan must track down his winning ticket, embarking on a wild chase through the streets of Bamako. But with his eyes focused on the prize, will he end up disappointing the object of his affection? Official Selection, 2013 Pan African and Cairo Film Festivals.

DIR/SCR/PROD Dominique Philippe. Mali, 2013, color, 70 min. In French and Bambara with English subtitles. NOT RATED

No passes accepted.

Sat, Mar 9, 5:45; Tue, Mar 12, 6:00

WAR WITCHCongo/Canada

Oscar nomination, Best Foreign Language Film
Official Oscar submission, Canada

Komona (Rachel Mwanza) is a girl whose life is anything but normal. Kidnapped by African rebels at age 12, she is forced at gunpoint to slaughter her own parents and fight as a child soldier against the government in the jungles. But Komona is no ordinary solider. Due to her ability to see ghosts in the trees that warn her of approaching enemies, she is deemed a sorceress and given the title of War Witch by the leader of the rebels. This film exudes visceral energy and emotional power as Komona's journey ultimately finds her in love with a fellow child soldier but pregnant with another man's child. Can she find a way to resolve the actions of her past?

On a political scale, the sports boycotts against South Africa were an extremely effective mechanism in the struggle to end apartheid. On another, more personal level, these sanctions meant that for many athletes, particularly non-whites, freedom came at the expense of their chances at sporting success. This documentary gives an intimate account of swimmer Derek Orderson, who was only 18 in 1986 when he swam just two seconds outside of the world record, but was denied the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. A story about, not only a strong body, but a strong spirit; a man who turned to dreams of freedom when dreams of gold proved to be impossible.

From the moment Satché (actor/musician/poet Saul Williams) opens his eyes, he knows today will be his last. His friends and family gather to say goodbye, both exalting his best qualities and pointing out his shortcomings. In the streets of Senegal, Satché takes it all in, visiting former loves and old friends and spending his last moments with his wife and children. With this joyous, impressionistic ode to the fragility of life and death, Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis finds a poetic spiritualism amid the film's gentle rhythms. Official Selection, 2012 Berlin, Sydney, Chicago and London Film Festivals.

Marking the fiftieth anniversary of Algeria's independence, this heartfelt and meticulously researched biopic delves into the life of Ahmed Zabana, a national hero whose execution sparked a revolution. Fighting against French colonial rule alongside his ragtag band of FLN (National Liberation Front), thirty-year-old Zabana (Imad Benchenni) was charged with the murder of a French official and sentenced to death by guillotine. Filmmaker Saïd Ould-Khelifa presents a complex portrait of a man who struggled for freedom and dignity in a film that was chosen as Algeria's entry into the 2013 Academy Awards. Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Film Festival.

When the Algerian government enacts a law that provides amnesty to rebels who lay down their arms, Rashid, a jihadist fighter, leaves his hideout in the mountains and returns home. But the law can't erase the past, and when Rashid crosses paths with a middle-class couple whose lives were destroyed five years earlier, the cycle of violence, secrets and manipulation seems unavoidable. An intimate narrative and complex performances from the cast allow Algerian filmmaker Merzak Allouache to place viewers at the heart of this engaging and deeply touching story. Official Selection, 2012 Cannes, Chicago and Palm Springs Film Festivals.